Originally a Rolodex product, then sold off to Franklin Electronics, this device
and its platform are now owned by Xircom, one of the largest manufacturers of
everything that will fit in a PC Card slot. Appropriately enough, this
PDA does just that.

If I were going to draw a line where a device stopped being an organizer and
became a PDA, it'd be right here. Unlike many expensive organizers, this
PDA's screen is exceptionally crisp and easy to read. Form factor and
functionality don't have as much to do with this arbitrary decision as the general
polish and beauty of the software. The Palm became popular for making
a fast, no-frills, get-yourself-organized device. What prevented the REX
series from such stunning fame is a simple lack of input options. The
original REX-3 (which I owned in the past) did not have input capability at
all. Instead, it came with a leather case that held a pad of paper.
The 5000 and 5001, which are identical except for case color (black paint vs.
brushed aluminum), have a sixth button that was not on the REX-3--the Edit button.
Can't say as I use it much, but it's there. If you've ever gotten a high
score on a video game and used the joystick to select your initials, you're
already familiar with the REX 5001's input system. If you don't know what
I'm talking about, stop reading and go find a console video game.

Most, if not all of your data entry for this device is done with a desktop
computer, or another handheld if you're syncing them both together. Think
of it like the Dreamcast's Visual Memory Unit. It's a flash card that
holds your PIM data and lets you look at it at any time. If data editing
is necessary, check out the REX 6000. It has 2 MB of memory instead of
the 5001's 512 KB.

With the batteries installed, this waif of a device weighs in at a whopping
40 g (1.4 oz.), exactly half the weight of a Nokia 8290. Expect to have
forgotten what type of batteries it takes by the time they need replacement--the
included set should last four to 6 months with regular daily use. It includes
both a hard, clear plastic slip-case and a leather flip with a pad of paper
in it. Both have their uses, depending on occasion. Each of the
included cases allows full access to the control buttons on the unit and clear
view of the screen. It also includes a serial cradle for use with a desktop
PC. This is one very easy way to keep Outlook up-to-date between laptop
and desktop.

The software is very easy to use. There are two directional buttons,
each pointed at a 45 degree angle, a "Home" button that also serves
as a power off, an action button, and a "View" button. I'm quite
frankly disappointed by the View button on this device. The software for
the REX-3 simply cycled through its view panes when the view button was pressed;
the 5001 brings up a list of available views (usually only two), in which you
must scroll to the desired view and press the action button, inserting extra
keystrokes into the process and requiring you to use three separate buttons
for what a single press would have done before. Everything else is straightforward:
select what you want then press the action button.

Categories for the REX are available in each application. This includes
the ability to display multiple calendars and to have subfolders in Outlook,
etc. synchronized properly. The setup wizard allows you to choose which
categories sync to which folders and whether to create new folders on the handheld
or in your PIM. Supported PIMs are: Outlook (97-2000), Act! (3.0.6-4.x),
Lotus Organizer (4.5-5.0), Notes (4.5-5.0), Schedule+ (7.0-7.5), Sidekick 98/99,
Yahoo! Calendar, Excite Planner, and the included TrueSync Desktop software.
If you sync to anything except the included PIM and have a Palm, the software
presents the option to install Palm conduits as well.

6 large icons adorn the main screen, representing each of the REX's capabilities.
Since it doesn't run third-party applications, these 6 icons are large and easy
to identify (see product picture above). The smaller row of icons at the
bottom of the screen serve as indicators. The device runs the same OS
as the Royal Vista--comparing the REX to the Royal Vista is the same comparison
as pitting a Palm Vx against a Pilot 1000. The devices perform the same
functions, but the sleek, svelte styling, the attention to detail, and the easier
navigation in the REX's OS make all the difference.

Calendar

REX's calendar is very easy to use, and remarkably efficient with its screen
space. The display is 160 pixels wide, the same as a Palm handheld, but
is only 90 pixels tall. There are three views: daily, weekly, and monthly.
In the daily view (above), push the action button to change from scrolling days
(as shown) to selecting among appointments. The weekly view shows days
as columns and times as rows, much like the Palm OS's week view. The action
button here allows you to switch from skipping weeks forward and back to scrolling
up and down, showing later and earlier times. The monthly view is a simple
monthly calendar, where pressing the action button will allow you to choose
among days on which appointments are scheduled.

Contacts

Contacts are also very legible because of the screen's width. Use the
arrows to select a tab, then hone in on a specific letter. Pressing action
once again allows you to scroll through the list. Each individual's contact
card has multiple panes. Unlike most organizers, the REX can store multiple
addresses for a contact. The main screen's display number is configurable,
simply by selecting the number or e-mail address you want to appear from the
number/e-mail screen and using the edit button to set it as the display number.
There are three panes for each contact: Work and Home addresses and numbers/e-mail.

To Do List

The To Do list is simple, too. Choose an item then press the action button.
Press the edit button to mark it as completed. You can also reschedule
or delete To Do items from the edit menu. Categories are available, and
there is an option to view only items that are due this week.

Memo Viewer

You can view Outlook memos with this application. Memos can also be added
or edited from the viewer--see the note above on editing. There aren't
many options here, but none are really necessary. Select a note.
Read the note. It's simple.

World Clock

If you're using the TrueSync Desktop software, you can enter and choose up
to 6 cities for storage in the REX. Choose a city for your home time,
or, if you're traveling, just move the radio selection on the top of the screen
to the World Clock and set your traveling city with the action button.
Pressing the view button allows you to set the time for your device. You
shouldn't have to do this, though, as the REX's time is automatically synchronized
with your PC during each session.

Preferences

Among other things, you can set the date and time formats, set alarm sounds,
set time and date, and view available memory from this application. Use
the view button to switch between screens. You can set a security code,
which requires the operator to press a specific sequence on the REX's 6-key
pad upon startup. The only option I'd like to see is to have the password
required only daily. The longest interval here is for one hour.

Summary
If you or a loved one or colleague need a simple way to carry your PIM data anywhere
and everywhere, choose the REX 5000. Even if you already have a PDA, this
can serve as a good backup in case your Pocket PC's batteries die or you can't
buy AAAs for your Psion/Palm. This device is especially useful for laptop
owners, because it can not only transport PIM data from the laptop for you to
view, but also keep your laptop in sync with one or more other computers.
If editing capabilities are needed, buy the infinitely geeky REX 6000. It
features an onscreen keyboard for data entry and is the same small size and weight
as the 5001. Both Xircom models are smaller and lighter than any other PDA
around.

I now seek a cellular phone in this same form factor, or maybe Type III PC
Card. If the Nokia 8290 is only twice its weight, this should be possible
before too long, right?

Ratings Defense
I give Xircom's REX 5001 all 5 Geekheads for Quality. It is small, light,
very sturdily constructed, and includes all the accessories a mobile user needs.
The metal casing feels solid, and the operating system has a very polished, well-thought-out
feel. My previous REX, the model 3, was sat upon, stepped on, dropped, and
then finally met its demise on its third trip through the washing machine.
The only other device that has stood up to that level of abuse is my still-functioning
Newton MessagePad 120. I doubt it could take the washing machine, but I
think it even less likely that I'd forget to take it out of my pocket.

For Geekness, I can only spare the REX 5001 3 Geekheads. It doesn't run
third-party apps, isn't backlit, and you can't talk to it. It is a businessman's
machine, with a Rolodex-designed operating system and no-frills approach to
personal information management. It's built to be a companion to a laptop,
which is not geeky at all. But, it scores well because of its very sleek,
very very thin form factor, and because of its 16:9 widescreen display ratio.
It also scores highly because it makes an impressive addition to the Geek wallet.
If coupled with a normal PDA, this could cause your Geek factor to skyrocket
right off the charts.